Drinking Behavior in the State of Washington

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Abstract
Survey by Wash. Public Opinion Lab., State Col. Wash., using a stratified sample of the adult population, State of Wash. Summary of findings cannot be complete; only highlights follow. 63.3% drink; 36.7% abstain. Of men, 19.4 drink regularly (3 times a week or more); 56.8% drink occasionally (once a year to twice a week); 23.8% abstain. Of women, 3.2% regular drinkers; 48.2% occasional; 48.6% abstainers. 55% more of the males drink than was true of their fathers; 173% more of the females compared to their mothers. Beer is the first choice of 54.2%; distilled beverages, of 42.8%. Regular drinkers also tend to drink larger amounts at a sitting. 75.9% do most of their drinking in homes. More drinking and more regular drinking among Catholics than Protestants; most of all among those with no religious affiliation. Fewer drinkers and fewer regular drinkers among veteran than nonveteran males. Fewer drinkers as one goes up the age scale. More drinkers and more regular drinkers as one goes up the income scale. 30.5% of abstainers once drank. Chief reasons for abstaining are religious and/or moral. Chief reasons given for drinking are sociability and relaxation. About half stated that 2 drinks of whisky would adversely affect judgment, memory, and speed. 7 out of 10 believe alcohol to be a stimulant 54.6% believe that an alcoholic is unable to stop drinking; but about 60% still view alcoholism as primarily a problem of will power. 72% had known one or more alcoholics; of those known, 40.5% were close friends or relatives. One-third did not know the purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous. 22.4% had not heard or read anything on alcoholism during the preceding 3 yrs.; newspapers and magazines were the primary source of information about alcoholism for 69.6%.

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